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(No Model,) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. M. TAAFPE, Decd. J MELEY Admlnlstratrlx OAR BRAKE No. 326,666. Patented Sept. 22, 1885.

s n e FIE 2 WITNEEEE (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. M. TAAFFE, Decd.

J. MELEY, Administratflx. GAR BRAKE.

No. 326,666. Patented Sept. 22, 1885.

III]

, lUNrTEo STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JANE MELEY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ADMINISTRATRIX OF HENRY M. TAAFFE, DECEASED.

CAR-BRAKE.

GPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 326,666, dated September 22, 1885.

Application filed May 4, 1885.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that HENRY M. TAAFFE, late a citizen of the United States, and resid ing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, now deceased, did invent a new and useful Improvement in Track-Brakes for Railroad-Cars, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in track-brakes for railroadcars, and more particularly to that class of railroad-ears known as dummies or cars of endless-cable railroads.

The object of this invention is to provide a trackbrake for railroad-cars which is of cheap and simple construction, easily operated, and of great power, owing to the peculiar arrangement of the levers and operating mechanism. This object is accomplished by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top or plan view of the central portion of the platform of a dummy-car, showing the foot-lever of the improved brake in position. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the carplatform, showing likewise a bottom View of the improved track-brake. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation showing my trackbrake when raised from the rails. Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are detail views.

Similar letters of reference are used to indicate like parts throughout the several views.

A represents the car-platform, and B the wheels,while C represents the grip mechanism.

D D are downwardly-extending bearing or hinge plates secured to the under side of the car-platform upon either side thereof. One of the sides or cars of these hingeplates is made long and extends downwardly, having a vertical slot cut therein, as shown clearly in Fig. 7 in which E represents the extended ear, and F the slot therein.

To the bearings D D are pivoted the long lever-arms G G, one extending forward and the other aft over the track upon both sides of the car. The lower ends of the said lever-arms are provided with brakeshoes H, hinged thereto and extending lengthwise of the track. The under face of these brake-shoes may be covered (No model.)

with rubber, but are preferably provided with transverse grooves or ribs, in order that they may bite or take a firmerhold upon the track rails.

Within the slots F are received the pintles of the transverse bar I, which extends from side to side of the machine, and is bent near its center to enable it to pass the grip mechanism, as shown in Fig. 2, while a shaft or downwardly-projecting rod, J, extending from the grip-frame through the bars, serves to steady'and brace the said transverse bar in its movements up and down or when applying the brakes.

To the lever-arms G, at a point about onethird of the distance up from the brake-shoes, are connected the toggle-arms or toggle'levers K K by means of pivots L, while the upper ends of the said lever-arms are jointly pivoted upon the pintle of the transverse bar I at a point between the downwardly-extending slotted ear and the shoulder which would be left upon the end of the bar after the pintle had been turned or rounded off.

Upon the floor of the dummy or car, and a little to one side of the grip mechanism, is secured the foot-lever M, operating against a ratchet-faced are, N, and pivoted in a standard, 0, (see Figs. 1 and 3,) and by its position the distance of thebrake-shoes from the trackrails is regulated. The forward end of the foot-lever engages with a vertical rod, I, passing through a hole in the car-floor and connected to the transverse bar I, as shown in Fig. 3.

The operation of the improved track-brake will be as follows, to wit: When the operator desires to apply the brakes, he places his foot upon the proper end of the foot-lever M, and by pressing downward raises up the opposite end, also the vertical rod 1? and transverse bar I. The said bar as it is raised also draws up the inner ends of the toggle-levers K K. and draws together their lower ends, and also the lower ends of the long lever-arms G G, which, as they approach each other, bear (through the medium of the brakeshoes) with increasing force upon the track-rails, and but little applied power is necessary to raise the shoes H, the toggle-levers K, and transverse bar I, all constructed, arranged, and operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein specified and set forth.

JANE MELEY, Administratrix'of the estate of the late Henry .M. Taqfie. Witnesses:

O. W. M. SMITH, CHAS. E. KELLY. 

